Shoe construction



Dec. 24, 1935. v. H. MOSS SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 25, 1951 Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE CONSTRUCTION Vernon H. Moss, Brookline, Mass.

Application September 25, 1931, Serial No. 565,041

7Claims.

This invention relates to shoe manufacture, and pertains more particularly to improvements in the shank construction of shoes. The principal purpose of the invention is to provide a comfortable, stylish and durable shoe provided with an improved insole member which aifords the desired rigidity and arch-supporting firmness at the shank of the shoe without undue bulk or thickness and without causing discomfort to the wearer.

In'accordance with this invention, a stiff shank member formed of leather or leather board which is preferably molded to proper shape and which may be strengthened by impregnating the material with a suitable hardening solution, is incorporated in the body of the shoe at the heel and shank portions thereof. This shank member preferably constitutes a separate insole member, although it is contemplated that the member may form part of a complete insole extending from heel to toe of the shoe, within the spirit of my invention. In preparing the shank member, I preferably form integral lateral extensions at opposite sides thereof, which are shaped during the molding of the leather. strip so as to support the arch of the foot and strengthen the sides of the shoe.

When additional reinforcement is provided, as herein recommended, the shank member is preferably divided to furnish separable upper and lower portions, and a metal strip is inserted between the divided portions. Recommended modes of arranging the metal reinforce and the advantages of such arrangements are hereinafter set forth.

These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description of the improved construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and the improved features will be pointed out in the appended claims. It will be understood that the materials and structural details herein described as illustrative of the inmodes of securing the rearward end of the steel reinforce; and

, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of an upper lasted over the shank member and secured by fastenings disposed according to one aspect 5 of the invention.

In making my improved shoe, I prefer to follow the practice set forth in my copending application, Serial No. 565,040 filed September 25, 1931, which describes the attachment of a relatively 10 limp and thin forepart insole 8 and a stiff shank member 3 to the forepart and heel and shank portions respectively of a suitable last It, before the upper of the shoe is applied and secured as therein disclosed. I recognize, however, that 15 the improved shank member which embodies the present invention may be incorporated in the shoe according to any common method of shoe manufacture; and I particularly contemplate that the shank member may form part of a con- 20 tinuous insole, as previously mentioned.

The shank member 9 is preferably molded of leather, leather board or the like v and shaped to conform generally to the contour of the last it with the provision of integral side tabs or extensions I l and 52 which are properly shaped during the molding of the leather to conform to and a support the arch of the foot aswell as to strengthen the sides of the shoe. The material of which the shank 9 ismolded is preferably im- 30 pregnated with a hardening solution or agent such as a celluloid composition, cellulose acetate or the like, which prevents deformation of the shank, particularly at its periphery and projecting extensions.

The shank is given additional strength and rigidity along its longitudinal axis by the provision of the thin steel reinforce i3, which is preferably fixed between longitudinally divided portions it and of the shank member. For this 40 purpose the rearward portion of the shank may be split in half, for example from the line IQ of Figs. 2 and 3 to the rear end thereof, to provide the separable top section or flap M; or a suitable slot or recess for the steel piece i3 may be made 45 by channeling the leather edgewise at one side or end inan obvious manner. The front end It of the steel reinforce preferably projects outwardly through a slot or opening IT at the for-" ward end of the bottom section l5, so that the 5 position of the metal piece may be readily adjusted before it is secured as by tacks l8 or other fastenings.

While the interior space or channel in which the metal strip is located need only be of suflioient size to receive the piece E3, the provision of a divided shank not only conceals the metal reinforce but also allows the shoe heel 20 to be secured by fastenings which are preferably applied through the bottom portion I5 so that their heads are covered by sticking down the top flap I 4 of the shank member, thereby avoiding any projections or humps at the surface of the insole which tend to discomfort the wearer. One

or more of such fastenings preferably engage the metal strip I3 as shown for example in Fig. 4, nails 25 are employed to secure the heel and also to fasten the rear end of the reinforce H3 in position; while in Fig. 5, the rear end 22-of the metal piece is extended and anertured to receive a screw 23 for retaining both heel and reinforce. In the finished shoe the flap H is preferably cemented or otherwise fastened upon the bottom portion l 5 and over the metal reinforce i3 and fastenings 2! or 23 in an obvious manner.

In some aspects of this invention, the steel member l3 may consist of a fiat and narrow strip (Fig. 1), but further advantages are afforded by providing a reinforce which is relatively broad at least at its forward portion, as indicated at 25 of Figs. 2 and 6. The wide end of the reinforce is thus located at the shank of the shoe and when the lined upper 26 is applied and lasted in any suitable manner, the opposed margins 21 of the upper overlap the sides of the reinforce at the shank. The overlapping edges}? are then securely fastened by tacks 28 or the like (Fig. 6) which extend through said margins and through the bottom layer l5 of the divided shank piece, and are clenched over against the broad end 25 of the metal reinforce. This feature is particularly valuable when the remainder of the upper is lasted to the insole members 8 and 9 by cement, for it furnishes adequate strength and security at the shank without the necessity of numerous lasting staples or tacks or the employment of an iron-bottomed last.

It will be understood that an outsole 29 may be applied and secured in any suitable manner, and that the shoe may be finished in accordance with common practice. While the illustrated embodiment of this invention shows a lady's shoe, it is apparent that the invention is applicable to footwear generally and that the structural details herein set forth are not essential to the invention except as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a shoe, a shank member having an interior longitudinal channel between its top and bottom surfaces, and a reinforcing strip located in said channel, the bottom surface having an aperture therein communicating with said channel, and the forward end of the reinforce projecting outwardly through said aperture whereby the position of the reinforce may be adjusted.

2. In a shoe, a shank member having an interior longitudinal channel between its top and bottom surfaces, and a reinforcing strip located in said channel, an upper having its margins inturned over the bottom surface of the shank member and overlapipng opposite sides of the reinforcing strip at the shank of the shoe, and 5 -fastenings extending through the overlapping margins of the upper and through the bottom portions of the shank member and clenched against said reinforcing strip.

3. In a shoe, a shank member having an inte- 10 rior longitudinal channel between its top and bottom surfaces, and a reinforcing strip located in said channel, the bottom surface having an aperture therein communicating with said channel, and the forward end of the reinforce projecting l5 outwardly through said aperture whereby the position of the reinforce may be adjusted, said strip being relatively broad at the forward end of the channel, an upper having its margins inturned over the bottom surface of the shank 20 member, and overlapping the sides of the broad portion of the strip at the shank of the shoe, and fastenings extending through said overlapping margins and the bottom portion of the shank member and clenched against the bottom surface 25 of said strip.

4. In a shoe, a shank member split longitudinally to provide separable upper and lower layers at the rearward portion thereof, and a relatively narrow reinforcing strip located between said 30 layers, the lower layer having an aperture therethrough, and the forward end of the strip projecting downwardly through said aperture.

5. In a shoe, a shank member split longitudinally to provide upper and lower layers, a rela- 35 tively narrow reinforcing strip located between said layers, an upper having its margins inturned over the bottom surface-of the lower layer and overlapping opposite sides of said strip at the shank of the shoe, and fastenings extending 40 through said overlapping margins of the upper and through the lower layer of the shank member, said fastenings having their inner ends clenched over against the reinforcing strip.

6. In a shoe, a shank member having upper 5 and lower layers providing an interior channel between its top and bottom surfaces, said layers being cemented together, and a reinforcing strip located between said layers, the lower layer having an aperture therein, and the forward end of 0 the reinforcing strip projecting downwardy and forwardly through said aperture.

7. In a shoe, a shank member having upper and lower layers, said layers being disposed in juxtaposed relation at the rear part of the shoe, 55 a relatively narrow reinforcing strip located between said layers and projecting at its forward and through the lower layer, and a fastening passing through said strip for anchoring the projecting forward end of the reinforcing member to 60 the shank member.

VERNON H. MOSS. 

